Ford Focus Gets Style and Tech Upgrade

The Ford Focus range has been enhanced with stylistic and equipment upgrades in South Africa and Ford has also replaced the previous 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine with a new 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine. Take a look at the details…

Consumers who are considering buying a Ford Focus will be happy to know that the firm has implemented a number styling and technological upgrades, as well as offering a new 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with outputs of 88 kW and 270 Nm of torque. The Focus range now comprises a total of 19 derivatives.

What’s changed?

Styling and technological updates come in the form of an updated and expanded Trend Styling Pack as well as an upgraded Driver Assistance Pack which now includes the latest SYNC3 infotainment system with navigation.

The Trend Styling Pack is offered as an option on 5-door Trend hatchback models only and incorporates a new full colour-coded body kit with a rear spoiler and an electric tilt and slide sunroof. Multi-spoke 17-inch wheels with low-profile tyres add to the appeal and Bi-Xenon HID headlights from the ST3 are fitted with a cornering beam functionality and LED daytime running lights. Electrically folding mirrors, rear privacy glass and dual-zone climate control is also included.

The cost of the Trend Styling Pack amounts to R19 984.

The SYNC3 infotainment system features improved functionality via an 8-inch touchscreen.

As for the Driver Assistance Pack, available on 4- and 5-door Trend derivatives, SYNC3 with navigation is now on offer. The system features full-colour graphics, an elevated 3D map view, predictive search function and voice activated points of interest (POI) functionality. Buyers will also benefit from free annual map updates for a period of 5 years.

The new SYNC3 system is faster than the previous SYNC2 system and boasts an 8-inch colour touchscreen with multi-touch gestures such as swipe, slide and pinch-to-zoom functionality. Smartphone integration is provided using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the latter of which is still subject to license finalisation for use in South Africa.

The performance orientated Focus ST and Focus RS also benefit from rear parking sensors now fitted as standard on the ST1, ST3 and Focus RS. Furthermore, the Focus ST3 also gains a reverse camera as standard. SYNC3 with navigation and 10-speaker sound system with a built-in sub-woofer are optionally available for the Focus ST3 and Focus RS.

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Gero Lilleike is a published writer and photographer with most of his work appearing in the fields of travel and motoring. Gero has worked in the motoring space for the last four years and enjoys driving and photographing the latest cars. You can read Gero's work right here on Cars.co.za.